DO ORGANIC AND INORGANIC MULCHES AFFECTS SOIL MOISTURE CONSERVATION AND CROP YIELD?

Abstract

Soil moisture conservation is an important issue of rainfed area. Mulching as a soil cover is of great importance for conserving soil moisture and consequently crop yield. A field experiment was executed at Soil and Water Conservation Research Institute, Chakwal during the years 2015 to 2017. The objective of the study was to elucidate the effect of organic and inorganic mulches on growth and yield of chili crop. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments replicated thrice. The mulching material includes organic (wheat straw) and inorganic (black plastic sheet and transparent plastic sheet) with a control treatment of un-mulched/ uncovered plot. The results revealed that the highest average soil moisture content (17.4%) was observed in black plastic mulch followed by (16.8%) in the treatment with transparent plastic mulch as compared to un-mulched (11.3%) treatment. The maximum plant height (44.7cm) and fruit yield (293g/ plant) was observed in transparent plastic mulch treatment. Wheat straw improved the fruit yield (228g/plant) as compared to un-mulched (172g/plant). Capsaicin content (0.188 %) in chili fruit was recorded in control as compared to all mulched treatments. Therefore, mulching either organic or inorganic are found to be an important tool to conserve soil moisture and shown positive effect on soil moisture conservation as well as plant growth and yield.